Grave Dance

It opened, and I felt Falin stiffen. “My queen,” he whispered, sliding to his feet.

Oh, crap. What was the Winter Queen doing at my house? I tugged the comforter tighter and cracked open my shields.

Nothing happened.

I’d burned out both my physical and my psychic sight. I could hear the click of her heels as she swept into my small apartment, but I couldn’t see a thing.

“Hello, knight, planeweaver.” She paused. “Mortal.” I could imagine her unimpressed gaze assessing the mismatched furniture and the broken TV.

I considered trying to scramble off the bed, but what would I do then? Stumble around blindly? I remained in the middle of the bed, PC in my lap and a cup of coffee in my hands.

“Planeweaver, I believe our acquaintance suffered in our first meeting.”

You think? Might have been something to do with her threatening to have me tortured. “Alex,” I said.

“Excuse me?”

“My name is Alex. Not planeweaver.”

“Al-ex.” She drew the syllables out, and judging by her tone she wasn’t impressed. “What a dreadfully masculine name. I believe I will call you Lexi.”

Great.

“As I was saying, Lexi, our first meeting could have gone better. As a gesture of goodwill, I have brought you your friend.”

The door opened again, and I recognized the touch of familiar magic that zipped through the air.

“Caleb!” Holly yelled.

Thank goodness. I’d hoped he’d escaped when the Shadow King had helped me out of the winter court, but when we’d returned home we discovered that he was still missing. Of course, just because she’d returned Caleb didn’t mean she’d freed the rest of the independents.

“What about the others?” I asked.

I could almost hear the stillness in the room. Then the queen’s heel clicked on the floorboard, one quick clack, as if she’d tapped her foot.

“I will consider the idea. Now, I have heard that you have family in the shadow court and have a friendship with the upstart in the nightmare realm. Do not forget, dear Lexi, that there is something—or at least someone—who interests you in my court. While I do hate sharing my toys, I’m always willing to trade up, and having a planeweaver in my court would please me.” Her skirts rustled as she turned, and the door opened. “Come along, knight. I’ve heard that you’ll require a new abode, so you might as well show me around this dreadful city.”

With that, she left, the door banging shut behind her. I thought Falin had followed, but then his hand traced the edge of my cheek, his fingers trailing into my hair as he leaned his forehead against mine.

“Don’t you have to follow her?” My question was a whisper because I wanted the answer to be “no” even though I knew it wasn’t. I blinked, wishing more than anything to be able to see.

“Alexis,” he whispered. Then he kissed me, his lips taking possession of mine as if everything that hadn’t been said could be passed through our lips, tongues, breath.

“Wow,” Holly whispered behind me, and I heard Caleb clear his throat.

I didn’t care. I returned that kiss. Savoring the press of his mouth, the taste of him. And knowing that this kiss was good-bye.

“Knight,” the queen called from beyond the door, and Falin broke off the kiss.

But he didn’t pull back. Not yet. His lips pressed a smile against mine, and he said, “Don’t you dare throw out my toothbrush.”

Then he was gone.